Minister Addresses World Pride GatheringMinister Addresses World Pride Gathering Take Pride - Take Joy - Take Action as Millennium Theme

PO Box 66071, Houston, TX 77266-6071, USA

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - October 30, 1999 - Over one hundred and twenty pride organizers representing pride committees from around the world have selected "Take Pride - Take Joy - Take Action" as the international theme for Pride events across the globe for the year 2000.

The voting took place during the final plenary session of the 18th annual InterPride conference, held this year in Glasgow, Scotland, the very first time the conference has been held outside North America. Committees from sixteen countries organizing events drawing over 10 million people met over the weekend of October 21-24 to attend workshops and discuss ways of working more closely together. Delegates also heard from organizers in Rome about preparations for next year's first ever World Pride event.

"This is a good year for firsts. The first Scottish Parliament in nearly 300 years and now the first annual InterPride conference to take place outside North America. Central to our commitment to equality is promoting a just and inclusive society where tolerance and respect for others' way of life are part of the fundamental fabric of Scottish society."

The commitment was shared by Glasgow City Council. The previous evening delegates were officially welcomed to the city in the baroque splendor of Glasgow City Hall.

Delegates also elected Perin Hurewitz of New York City's Pride Committee, Heritage of Pride, as female co-president of the organization. She joins Teddy Witherington of San Francisco, who serves the second year of a two-year term as male co-president.